No title talk for Buccaneers
They are only worried about their next game, a massive clash with Sundowns
ORLANDO Pirates are now facing a mammoth task to try and knock Kaizer Chiefs off the summit of the table but Josef Zinnabuer refused to put his side under pressure.
The Buccaneers dropped two crucial points this past weekend at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont.
They shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw with Abafana Bes’thende in an Absa Premiership showdown.
Zinnabuer and Pirates are mathematically still in the league race but he made it clear that he is not focused on chasing Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
“For me, it is not important (the title race).
“We don’t talk about titles. Chiefs and Sundowns have more points than us.
“Bidvest Wits have less games. If they win more games, they will have more points,” Zinnabuer explained.
The Buccaneers are third on the log with 40 points after 23 games. They are eight points behind the log leaders, Amakhosi.
Chiefs have acquired 48 points after 22 games.
The Buccaneers will face Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits, Baroka FC, Cape Town City, SuperSport United, Maritzburg United and Stellenbosch FC in their last seven league matches.
“Our focus is on improving the team. The focus is always about next game.
“We are not focused on the title or on chasing Kaizer Chiefs. That is not our focus. It is normal that the press will ask about the title. For 10 weeks nobody spoke about the title. Nobody speaks about if we will catch Kaizer Chiefs.
“It good for us that we won a point. We come a little step towards the right direction,” he added.
Pirates have blossomed under the regime of Zinnabuer.
They suffered their first loss in the league last week when they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the expense of their bitter rivals, Amakhosi in an Absa Premiership showdown at FNB Stadium.
The Buccaneers are now rejuvenated and resurgent now. At some stages this season they were down and out in the title race until Zinnabuer took over the coaching reins from Rhulani Mokwena, who is now at Chippa United.
Pirates will face Sundowns in their next encounter.
It is a game that might end their title aspirations.
The Buccaneers last lifted the league title in 2010/11.
They finished as the runners-up for the past two seasons. Sundowns pipped them on both occasions to win the title.
“Next we have tough game against Sundowns. We have to focus on Sundowns now,” Zinnabuer explained.
Sundowns are targeting their hattrick of titles. They can cut the gap between themselves and Chiefs to one point if they notch up victories in their three games in hand.